Automatic vise auto stop for work-benches



W. SOPHERAND l. A. HAMMOND.

AUTOMATlC VISE AND STOP FOR WORK BENCHES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, I918- RENEWED NOV. 26' I918. 1,308,922.

Patented July 8,. 1919.

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n TED STATES PATENT OF I WALTER SOPHER ANDTRA 'A. HAMMOND,-0F AINSWOB TH, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC vrsn Am) s'ror non wonK-Bnncnns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3,1919.

Application filed February 14, 1918,. Serial No. 217,162. Renewed November 26, 1918. Serial No. 264,248.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WALTER SoPHnR and IRA A. HAMMOND, citizens of the United States, residing 'at Ainsworth, county of Brown, and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improves ment in Automatic Vises and Stops for lVork-Benches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic vise and stop for work benches.

Our object is to provide a novel bench vise which will automatically graspand securely hold a board when the latter is pressed thereagainst and serve as a bench stop for the board, so that thelatter' will be arranged for anydesired work, such as planing its edge, for instance. Our improved vise and stop embodies jaws which cooperate with closing means,.in turn actuable by pushing the board thereagainst and so arranged that the greater the pressure, the more firmly is the board grasped. The operative parts are, preferably, mounted on a platform which can be raised and lowered so that the vise and stop may be elevated for use, or, depressed so that the top of the work bench is level and free for any desired use.

The invention is not limited to use on a work bench for wood, nor is it limited to being constructed out of wooden parts, but it finds particular utility in connection with carpenters work benches.

The invention is susceptible of modifica tion in certain respects and we do not, therefore, limit ourselves to the details of construction disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1, is a plan view of the invention applied to a work bench, parts of the bench and platform being broken away;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section through the invention by itself;

Fig. 3, a cross-section thereof; and

Fig. 1, a detail view, partly in section, showing the vise in lowered position.

A section of an ordinary work bench is shown at 1 to illustrate. the application of the invention thereto. An opening 2 having been cut out of the bench top, the boX like frame 3 is suitably fittedthereinto, with its top flush with the top of the bench.

Across the bottom of the frame3 extend pieces 4 having guides 5, and a bar 6 in has a swiveled connection 11 with a plate 12 secured to the lower face of thevplatform. On turning the screw'lO the platform 9 may be elevated for use, or, loweredso that its top willbe flush with the top of the bench and form no obstruction when the bench i needed forother purposes.

The .platform 9 is of box-like form and contains the operative. parts of the vise and stop; the top is preferably removable and it has a slot 13 for the entry of the board or other article which is to be held by the vise. Slidable lengthwise within the platform is a closing frame 14 comprising a crosspiece and jaws 15 having inclined, or wedgefaces 16, provided with dove-tail grooves 17 The faces 16 converge toward each other toward the entry end of the platform. The cross-piece of the frame 14 carries a rod 18 which. slides through a guide hole 19 in a piece 19 fixed to the platform 9. A spring 20 normally presses the closing frame 14 toward the entry end of the platform.

Jaws 21 have inclined or wedge-shaped faces 22 cocperating with the faces 16 and they are provided with dove-tail ribs 23 which fit within, and slide relatively to, the closing frame 1 1 when the latter is moved, whereby the jaws are opened or closed. To prevent the jaws from sliding lengthwise of the platform, they are provided with pins 2431M]. 25 received-in grooves 26 and 27 in the bottom and top of the platform.

When it is desired to use the vise and stop, it is elevated by turning the handscrew 10, which feeds it upwardly through the-fixed frame 3. The endof the board or article to be held by the vise and stop, is then inserted'into the slot 13 and pressed against the end of the pusher rod 18. This action moves the closing frame 1i lengtharticle, or piece of lumber is withdrawn, the spring 20 restores the closing frame and the jaws to normal position. The harder the article or piece of lumber is pressed against the rod 18, the firmer will the jaws 21 grip the article to be held.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic vise and stop for work benches, the combination with slidable jaws, of a slidable closing device therefor, said jaws and closing device having engaging inclined faces, whereby the jaws may be closed when the closing device is moved in one direction, and operating means for the closing device arranged so as to be engaged by the article which is to be held by the jaws.

2. In an automatic vise and stop for work benches, the combination with slidable jaws having inclined faces, and guiding means for said jaws, of a slidable closing device having inclined faces engaged with those on the jaws and provided with means slidably interlocking with the jaws so that the latter will move to or fro as the closing device is slid in one direction or the other, a spring for moving the closing device to cause the jaws to open, and .a pin or rod Copies of this patent may be obtained for mosses arranged to be engaged by the article to be held by the jaws when said article'is entering the'jaws, said pin or rod cooperating with the closing device for the purpose of closing the jaws by the pressure of the article to be held thereby.

3. A work bench provided with a platform having an open part, said platform being adapted to be raised or lowered and, when lowered, arranged flush with the top of the bench, raising and lowering means for said platform, and a vise contained within the platform which is available for use through the open part of said platform.

4. A work bench provided with a platform which can be raised or lowered, raising and lowering means'therefor, and a vise carried by said platform having operating means adapted to be engaged by an article which is to be held by said vise, whereby the vise may be closed on said article by pressing the article into engagement with said operating means when the platform is in position for use.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

' WALTER SOPHER.

I'RA A. HAMMOND.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

